Breaking enemy holds by CQC unarmed foul means and methods
After completing the Phase 1 Basic Thailand course of instruction, the next stop was Germany for the annual Leipzig Phase 1 Basic and Phase 2 Advanced courses of instruction.
Interestingly, these annual courses are attracting not only German citizens, but also attendees from other European countries.
The course was conducted at the training depot of Ken Oesterreich the Todd Group Germany Chief instructor.
Ken has a very good outdoors training facility, well-equipped and attendees are well and truly taken care of with all their on course requirements.
The Germany courses attract not only civilian enthusiasts but also military personnel and law enforcement personnel.
Being accommodated on-site is very convenient for me personally instructing on this annual course of instruction and Ken is not only a good course manager and host but his hospitality is great and very much appreciated.
Courses circuits with long haul flights and tight turnarounds between courses can be demanding and having everything taken care of for you on course makes things that much better and maximises training time.
There were a large number of new entry exponents on this 2026 Phase 1 Basic course of instruction and the Phase 2 Advanced attendees that have attended multiple courses before progressed very well building up their mandatory 400 training hours for future Phase 2 Advanced testing.
There was no Phase 1 test this year as attending exponents with the majority being new entry exponents simply need more training time.
There were some physically strong lads on course that not only enjoyed the experience of an intensIve course of instruction, but also showed considerable promise.
The course was introduced to the reasonably newly introduced Phase 1 Basic ground combat skills capabilities.
While in the past the skills in unarmed combat focused on prevention by offensive or counteroffensive actions in relation to battlefield clinching and ground combat, the new phase 1 Basic ground combat component provided footing recovery capabilities and incapacitation skills by battle proven foul means providing increased chances of ground combat threat neutralisation.
While the Phase 1 ground combat package is considerably lesser than the phase 2 advanced full capabilities battlefield enemy decentralisation and ground combat threat neutralisation, the skills provided in the Phase 1 ground combat package were primary practices targeting soft sensitive targets.
The phase 1 Basic course also received an introduction to detainee handling in primary control and restraint.
Using two separate training areas at Ken’s depot enabled restricted Phase 2 training to be uninterrupted and with Ken assisting me with the instructing duties, both phases of training received constant instructor attention.
The signature Phase 1 Basic unarmed offensive assault military stamp kicking skills were practised on full impact static training equipment as well as momentum generation follow-through ground impact targets and then under controlled combatant and enemy party putdown decentralisation.
These three practices provide controlled aggressive safety in achieving realistic outcomes that leave no doubt that the skill would had achieved threat neutralisation.
The Phase 1 Basic training on day five was consolidated through testing of individual exponents assessment and decision-making combined with the execution of threat neutralisation under offensive assault, counter offensive assault, seizure prevention and when compromised grabs holds and seizure escapes.
The disarming component included long and short sharp edged and bludgeon weapons disarming under incoming assault and statically at weapon point or shaft under ambush and mugging threats.
The Phase 1 Basic exponents not only were instructed in primary disarming skills but also in secondary/emergency disarming skills.
The course also included a knife sharpening introduction on the tried and true formula for knife sharpening developed by Derek Senior.
This sharpening means applies to all sharp edged blades from small folders through to hatchets dispatchets and machetes.
It takes just a few minutes from start to finish and is all about the process as in technique and the same sequence every time.
Knife sharpening
We often introduce different auxiliary training skills sets on our week long intensive courses of instruction.
Day five also included an introduction to CQC toughness training enhancement including combat milling and coming back from the dead.
This also included crowd combat where at close to point blank body contact range the exponents had to control range and position with their enemy party as well as be spatially aware in regard to others around them under CQC and MSD actions on.
Importantly with exponents attending for various reasons ranging from challenging themselves with the intention of future volunteering for Phase 1 Basic testing and others that are simply serious enthusiasts wanting to achieve their best capabilities and confidence in Phase 1 Basic training.
While testing is a gruelling must pass mandatory requirement to achieve rank and to be accepted for Phase 2 Advanced training, there are always some that may not be physically capable but are encouraged to continue with their Phase 1 Basic training and are welcomed on specialist short courses that are open to all ranks including undertaking specialist close personal protection courses.
The time went very fast and before I knew it, it was time to farewell the course and Ken heading for home.
We have a very busy schedule this year, not only with intakes training and courses but also with the advance duties preparing for the March 2027 centennial celebrations at Camp Todd and Todd Group HQ with the official dinner and celebrations at Larnach Castle.
There are a lot of members that will travel to New Zealand to share in this very special milestone and unique experience not only with the official celebrations and centennial course but also with the handover of the chief instructor position to Kowley “Cowboy” Mitchell.
It’s hard to envision our founder, the late Sergeant Major Harry Baldock and myself having been the only to chief for one hundred years of military self-defence and military close quarters combat training provision.
Members can register from the toddgroup.com website for the Centenary celebrations and non-member new entry exponents wanting to join the all ranks Centenary Phase 1 Basic course at camp Todd can apply from toddgroup.com with current members wanting to attend the Centenary course, course confirming from the same website.
From the rest come the best as the old saying goes and those that are wanting to train in our European mil elite CQC/MSD just need to apply.
